INTERVIEW: MADJO releases new single and music video

MADJO, the French-Swiss Senegalese singer-songwriter, is set to release her new album, Rebellion next year. One of the standout tracks from the album is “Women”, which celebrates the sacred feminine and invites listeners into the goddess circle.

The song’s inspiration came from Maya Angelou’s “Letter to My Daughter”, and it speaks about women, their lineages, differences, and legacies. MADJO’s voice is warm and lively, mixed with indie rock, soul, folk and electronic sounds, creating an exploratory pop sound that’s both intimate and engaging.

The music video for “Women”, directed by Mai Hua, follows a group of women of all ages in an improvised moment together of unbound self-expression and joy. The visuals showcase the different facets of femininity and the strength that emanates from women of all backgrounds.

The track is a powerful statement about the importance of women and their role in the world, especially in the current climate of change and progress. It encourages listeners to celebrate the feminine energy and its significance in shaping the world around us.

MADJO’s “Women” is a stunning tribute to the sacred feminine and a call to action to honoUr the strength and diversity of women. Her upcoming album, Rebellion, promises to be a poignant and thoughtful exploration of the world around us, and the place we hold in it. MADJO has continuously reinvented herself throughout her career, and her latest album marks a new stage in her life as an artist and world citizen.

The upcoming record, composed from a world in metamorphosis, is the engaged reflection of a necessary awareness of our fragility. The tracks on the album, including “Women”, “Identity”, “Enfant Sauvage”, “Refugees”, and “Prophecy”, showcase Madjo’s talent for creating an original indie pop sound which is warm and lively, as well as instantly memorable and enjoyable.

Overall, MADJO’s “Women” is a beautiful tribute to the power and significance of women. The track’s celebration of the feminine energy and its role in shaping the world is a timely reminder of the importance of unity and diversity in our society. With Rebellion set to release in 2024, MADJO promises to continue to push the boundaries of her sound and explore new territories in her music.

We caught up with MADJO to find out more about her inspirations, her new single “Women” and what she’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with MADJO below.

Hey MADJO, how’s things?

I’m fine, I’m happy having released my last track “Women”! I have received lots of beautiful feedback!

How did you first get into making your own music?

I was 19 years old, I was almost at the end of my musical studies. To get my diploma I had to compose my first piece.

After this experience I wanted to continue composing.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

Fiona Apple it was a shock for me!

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

Many artists inspire me today. James Blake, Bon Iver, Feist, The National, Patrick Watson, Lhasa De Sela…

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Reading is important in my creation process. I need to feed on stories. It feeds my imagination.

I need to walk in nature a lot! And sometimes take a pause from music!

What do you love about your local music scene?

To be honest, I don’t really know the local scene from where I live. I lived in Paris for 10 years and it was especially there that I forged links with Parisian artists. Now I live in the mountains. I don’t live in town anymore.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

In my albums there are as many catchy tracks as there are quiet ones. You can listen to my music no matter how you feel.

How did you find making your new single “Women”?

The chorus came first but then the verse didn’t work, so I decided to work with 2 producers from Brussels, Romain Descampes and Ziggy Franzen (from the band Puggy).

They helped me to see the track in a different way. It was a real experience to work with guys to write a song about women!

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I started from Maya Angelou’s text “Letter to my Daughter”.

I wanted to talk about our lineages and especially about the current changes in the legacy of women in our world.

How did you find working with Mai Hua to direct the music video?

Very natural. She is a friend of mine, so everything was easy. We could talk about what we both wanted. And we agreed to imagine the video more like a documentary than a traditional music video.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

I’m in love with the Swiss band “Black Sea Dahu”! I adore their universe!

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I would like them to feel well-being.

And in general, emotions!

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

I have 2 great memories. One in Kigali (Rwanda) it was a magical venue, I played in a place like a church but it wasn’t, people were so on fire like a gospel choir!

And the second one was in a French festival in Brittany called “Festival du bout du monde”.

It was under a huge circus tent, there was thousand people on fire too, as if we were all singing together!

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

It would be the Paleo Festival of Nyon (CH) It’s an ethical festival on many points. I love the atmosphere of this festival.

And for the artists to headline it could be Radiohead, Patrick Watson and Björk!

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

My advice is to listen to your own rhythm, listen to your heart and stay authentic as much as possible. We are working too much with our heads and not enough with our hearts these days.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

Start touring with my band. Shoot a new music video and finally release my album next year!

Watch the music video for Women below